KALEIDOSCOPE KAMTSCUATKA. 



295 



polygonal prism, having more than four sides, can be 

 used in this instrument. Among four sided prisms, 

 the square and the rectangular parallelogram, are the 

 only ones that can be introduced, ana among tri- 

 angles only such as have for their angles the quo- 

 tients obtained by dividing 360, by 4, 6, 8 or 12, so 

 that we may have a triangle having its angles 

 First, . . 60, 60, 60, or 

 Second, . . 90, 45, 45, or 



Third, . . . 90, 60, 30. 

 The square polycentral kaleidoscope is the least 

 pleasing of any, for it exhibits the same set of images 

 in longitudinal stripes; and the same holds with the 

 rectangular, excepting that the stripes are longer in 

 one direction than another. The equianglar triangle 

 form gives a very pleasing set of images, arranged 

 symmetrically in three different directions, for which 

 reason it has been called the Triscope. When the 

 section of the prism is an isosceles right angled 

 triangle, the resulting images are exceedingly 

 beautiful, being arranged symmetrically by fours at a 

 time in squares ; this form of the instrument is called 

 the Tetrascope. When the angles of the trianglar 

 section are respectively 90 P , 60, and 30, the images 

 arrange themselves in hexagons. Of all the forms 

 above specified, the two last seem best calculated 

 to assist the pattern-drawer in his designs. 



On reflection, it is manifest that the object or 

 objects in the case at the end of the tube, must be 

 removed at some distance from the end of the mir- 

 rors, which will impair the effect in some degree. 

 This may be obviated by removing the object to a 

 considerable distance from the ends of the mirrors, 

 and placing a convex lens, so that the image of the 

 objects may be formed just at the ends of the reflec- 

 tors. The spectra of the kaleidoscope may be thrown 

 upon a wall or screen in the manner of the magic 

 lantern, or solar microscope, and sketched by the 

 draughtsman; but the light must be very strong to 

 produce a clear and vivid picture. 



KALI ; a genus of marine plants, which are burnt 

 to procure alkali. See Alkali, and Kelp. 

 KALLIPYGOS. See Venus. 

 KALMIA ; a beautiful North America genus of 

 shrubs, having coriaceous, ever-green and cup-shaped 

 flowers, of a fine rose or purple colour, disposed in 

 large corymbs. The corolla is provided with ten 

 little pits, prominent externally, and in which the 

 anthers are confined. It is naturally allied to rhodo- 

 dendrum. The K. latifolia, commonly called moun- 

 tain laurel, or calico bush, is a large shrub, growing 

 most abundantly on and about the Alleghany moun- 

 tains, but sometimes in the vicinity of the ocean, in 

 the Middle and Eastern States, as far north as lat. 

 43. The trunk is sometimes three inches in dia- 

 meter, and the wood is very hard, suscept.ible of a 

 fine polish, and more nearly resembles box than any 

 other North American wood. This shrub is in great 

 request in the European gardens, from the beauty of 

 its flowers and foliage. The other species of kalmia, 

 four in number, are much inferior in stature and the 

 size of the flowers, though still highly ornamental. 



KALUGA ; an extensive government of European 

 Russia, bounded by those of Moscow, Smolensko, 

 Tula and Orel, lying between 35 48' and 37 a 22' 

 E. Ion., and 51 and 54 30' N. lat. Its territorial 

 extent is 8500 square miles. Its population was, in 

 1796, 853,000, and is now about 1,176,000. The 

 chief products are corn, hemp, and flax. The chief 

 rivers are the Oka, the Upa, and the Sclrisdra. This 

 province contains iron mines. 



KALUGA ; capital of the above government, on 

 the Oka. It has some very good public buildings, 

 such MS the high church, government house, &c. ; 

 but in other respects, it is irregular, most of the 



houses being of wood, and ill built. Population, 

 25,000; 107 miles south-west ofMoscow; Ion. 365 

 E.; lat. 54 3' N. 



KAMEN, or KAMIEN ; a Sclavonic word signi- 

 fying rock, stone, and found in many geographical 

 names, as Kamin, Kamientz, Kaminietz, &c. 



KAMTSCHATKA ; a large peninsula on the 

 north-eastern coast of Asia, forming a district. On 

 the east, it has the North Pacific ocean, and on the 

 west that large gulf of it called the sea of Okhotsk. 

 It extends from the 5lst to the 62d degree of north 

 latitude, and from 155 10' to 173 20' east longitude, 

 and is reckoned upwards of 600 miles in length, and 

 nearly 300 in breadth ; square miles, 85,000. It is 

 remarkable for its extreme cold, which is heightened 

 by a range of very lofty mountains, extending the 

 whole length of the peninsula. Several of these 

 mountains are volcanic; but the most remarkable is one 

 situated near Nijni Kamtschatsk, the volcano of which 

 is very active, and two years seldom elapse without 

 some violent eruption. Kamtschatka scarcely enjoys 

 three months of an imperfect summer, and is very 

 deficient in vegetable productions, particularly grain. 

 It has a great variety of animals which produce the 

 richest and most valuable furs. The sable is more 

 plentiful here than in Siberia, though its fur is not 

 quite so beautiful. There are several varieties of the 

 Arctic fox, or fire fox, in Kamtschatka. Other com- 

 mon animals are the beaver, the hare, the marmot, and 

 the anjali or wild sheep. The bear is the most 

 formidable wild animal, and the hunting of it the 

 most serious occupation of the Kamtscliadales. The 

 coasts and rivers swarm to a most extraordinary 

 degree with fish, which form the main article of food 

 of the inhabitants. The excellence of the salmon, 

 herrings and different kinds of shell-fish, is particu- 

 larly remarked. The air is also filled with game, 

 particularly woodcocks, snipes, grouse, wild geese 

 and ducks, the eggs, of which last are collected by 

 the natives, and preserved in the fat of fish. The on- 

 ly vegetable productions are stunted birch, and dwarf 

 pines and cedar. Shrubs are more plentiful, such as 

 the mountain ash, wild rose and raspberry. There 

 is also a variety of berries. Copper and iron are 

 worked. Sulphur abounds ; and many minerals are 

 found in the mountains. The trade of Russia with 

 Kamtschatka is carried on from Irkoutsk by the dif- 

 ficult and tedious route of Okhotsk. The imports, 

 besides brandy, are nankeens and other Chinese stuffs, 

 together with various commodities of Russian and 

 foreign manufacture, as ribbons, handkerchiefs, stock- 

 ings, caps, shoes, boots, and, in general, all articles 

 of European consumption, but in small quantity, and 

 bearing a very high price. The only export is furs, the 

 amount of which is valued at from 50,000 to 100,000 

 roubles. The capital is Nijni Kamtschatsk, with 

 300 inhabitants. The inhabitants are, in general 

 below the common height, have broad shoulders and 

 large heads. The face, and particularly the nose, is 

 long and flat, the eyes small and sunk, the lips thin, 

 and they have scarcely any beard. In 1690, the Rus- 

 sians had some knowledge of this country. In 1696, 

 they sent thither a detachment of Cossacks, under 

 Morosko. The next year, part of the country was 

 rendered tributary; but it was not till 1700, that all 

 Kamtschatka was surveyed and occupied by the 

 Russians. The sway which they have established is 

 by no means severe ; notwithstanding which, the 

 Kamtschadales, like all savage nations coming in con- 

 tact with civilized, have suffered deeply from the 

 connexion. The number of inhabitants now amounts 

 to only about 4500, of which about 1500 are Russians 

 and Cossacks. A century since, the number was 

 twenty or thirty times larger. This diminution is 

 to be ascribed to their bloody struggles to shake off 



